Summary: The beginning of a series, which shows "How To Receive God’s Blessings" ... this message is taken from Psalm 1.

INTRODUCTION: Tonight, we will begin a new series on “How To Receive God’s Blessings”. Last Sunday we took a look at “Blessings And Curses” from Deuteronomy Chapter 27. I want to expand on the “blessings” part. There are numerous references in the Scriptures on how to be BLESSED by God. In the weeks ahead, we will isolate several passages on “How To Receive God’s Blessings”.

Everybody WANTS to be BLESSED by God … AMEN? No one wants to be CURSED by God. Open your Bibles to Psalm 1, where King David begins his psalms with a “blessing”.

“Blessed” – Some versions of the Bible substitute the word “happy” for the word “blessed” (Moffatt, Norlie). I prefer the word “blessed”, because it demonstrates what we need to receive the “blessings” of God. Of course, the man/woman who is “blessed” by God, will be “happier” than the person NOT BLESSED by God … AMEN? BUT … for so many people, “happiness” depends on what “happens” to you. The person who is truly “blessed” by God, will find joy, peace, and contentment IN SPITE OF the circumstances.

David gives us a description of a “blessed” person … AND … how to “be blessed” by God. Let’s see “How To Receive God’s Blessings”.

I. WHAT THE BLESSED CHRISTIAN DOESN’T DO – 1:1

BLESSINGS result not only from what you DO … BUT … also from what you DON’T DO. Growing up, I found out that I was “blessed” by my father NOT JUST by doing the RIGHT things … BUT … also by NOT DOING the WRONG things.

Here’s a story about a woman who didn’t do the RIGHT things:

STORY: Mr. & Mrs. Smith had just come back from their honeymoon, and Mr. Smith calls his new bride from work to tell her that he’s bringing 4 of his co-workers, and their wives, home for supper. The new bride is a bit apprehensive, and tells him that she had only planned a meal for the 2 of them. Mr. Smith tells her to go out and get some Chinese food, and double the recipe for the cake she was planning on baking.

Several hours later, the new Mrs. Smith calls her husband at the office, and she’s in tears. She explains that she tried to double the cake recipe, but she can’t. “What’s the matter?”, Mr. Smith asks. “Well, the recipe calls for 2 eggs.” “So, double the recipe … use 4 eggs … don’t you have them?” “Yes,” she explains, “but that’s not the problem.” “Then, what’s the problem?”, Mr. Smith asks. Through her sobs, she explains, “The recipe says that the cake must be baked at 350 degrees, and I have checked the oven, and it won’t go up to 700 degrees!“

You aren’t “blessed” by doing the WRONG thing!

NOTICE the REGRESSION of POSITION in this verse … “walk” … “stand” … “sit”.

NOTICE the REGRESSION of PEOPLE in this verse … “ungodly” … “sinners” … “scornful”.

“ungodly” – lost, but moral.

“sinners” – open rebellion against God.

“scornful” – hardened sinners.

To receive God’s “blessings”, you DON’T:

1.- Walk In The Counsel Of The Ungodly.

“ungodly” = lost but moral. To be “blessed” by God, you don’t listen to ungodly counsel … you keep out of their way. When you walk with them, talk with them, become a part of their group … you will seek their advice, and eventually, do what they do.